Stool and auxiliary pedal for pianos



Feb. 18, 1936. Y. MIYASHITA STOOL AND AUXILIARY PEDAL FOR PIANOS Filed Aug. 24, 1955 INVENTOR MIYASHITA ATTORNEY I atentecl Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOOL AUXILIARY PEDAL FOR PIANOS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to auxiliary pedals for pianos, and particularly to adjustable attachments and stools therefor.

. In the construction of ordinary pianos, two or more pedals are positioned thereon near the floor, for operation by the feet of; adult players. In such position said pedals cannot be reached or operated by the feet of children, who are necessarily seated high enough to finger the key board.

Pedaling is just as important in piano playing as the bowing in violin playing, to give artistic expression to music. Needless to say, the use of the pedal must be done automatically, the moment the player sees the music note. Therefore, pedaling must be practiced as soon as music lessons are begun.

The ordinary piano is designed for adults. Children who are fairly advanced in technique, but who are not tall enough to reach the pedals will be prevented from giving their play the full artistic touch. On. the other hand, a child who is barely able to reach the pedal will stretch his legs in effort to do so and thus will be giving thought to the act of pedaling instead of paying full attention to the music he is playing.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a stool for the feet with upraised auxiliary pedals, which may be easily reached and operated by children, while playing the ordinary standard pianos.

Such pedals to be adjustable in. elevation so that the child operator may maintain an easy and correct position for free playing, without fatigue or thought, and so make greater progress, and display his talent to the best advantage.

Another object is to provide such a stool of wood of light and inexpensive construction, and simple in adaptation, so that the same may be moved, applied and adjusted by any child old enough to play any form of piano.

A further object is to provide such a stool with a pivot shaft at the back, with auxiliary pedals rotatably and adjustably mounted at one end thereof on said shaft, and the other end of said pedals projected forward in suitable position to be reached by the feet of children players. Also to provide telescopically formed and adjustable connecting rods extending down from the auxiliary pedals to the standard pedals below. Said rods, connected at their tops to said upper pedals by universal joints, to facilitate attachment to said lower pedals, and also provided with padded resilient clutches for such lower attachment.

A still further object is to provide holding brackets pivotally connected to the rear legs of the stool, which may be swung inward to suitable positions for adjustment beneath the ordinary pedal board of a grand piano, or outward beneath the side casings of an upright piano; and to be elevated in such positions to bind, and retain the stool in fixed relation with the piano to be played.

With these and other objects after appear, the invention is emplified in the accompanying drawing, which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the stool in position, with a grand piano,

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the stool and auxiliary pedals and assembly, all enlarged for illustration,

Figure 3,v is a front detail view of one of the connecting rods and adjacent parts,

Figure 4 is a. side view of the rod and parts shown in Figure 3.

Like numerals on the different figures represent like parts.

Numeral l2 represents the ordinary pedal board or pedal support on an ordinary grand piano with the usual pedals l3 for operation by adults. l4 represents the top of my piano foot stool, for support of a childs feet while playing the piano. l5 and I6 represent front and rear pairs of legs. positioned for ready use by the child player, and whereby the pedals l3 are operated, as hereinafter explained. While the piano may be supplied with three pedals only two are ordinarily required for a childs use. I8 represents upstanding eye lugs or standards, projected above the rear portion of the stool. These lugs support a horizontal shaft IS on which the rear ends of the auxiliary pedals are pivotally supported through hinge ears 20. The pedals I! are rotatably mounted on the shaft for operating the lower pedals, and slidably mounted on the shaft for adjustment of position in line above the respective lower pedals so far as possible. 2| represents cylindrical blocks slidably mounted on the shaft, with set screws 22 for binding the blocks in suitable positions. A slot 2|" in front side thereof is provided to span. the hinge ears of the pedals I1, and limit the downward movement of the same, and for retaining the same in desired position over the lower pedals.

The depression of the auxiliary pedals, depresses the lower' pedals, through a connecting rod 23. This'rod is adjustable in length by telescopic movement of two sections thereof, a and b,

that will hereinillustratively exi1 represents my auxiliary pedals and a binding screw 24 for holding the sections extended as desired. The rods are provided with a ball 25 at'their top, and the lower sides of the auxiliary pedals are provided with globular socket journals 25' within which the ball is easily moved to permit the lower end of the rod to be moved to reach the desired portion of the lower pedals, for attachment therewith, whether the upper and lower pedals are in line one above the other or otherwise.

A clutch is provided at the bottom of the rods for easy connection with the lower pedals. This is formed with curved jaws 26 openly spaced for slipping over said lower pedals. Resilient curved fingers 27 project inward from the ends of jaws 2B for gripping said lower pedals when positioned in the yoke. A soft lining 28 of rubber or other suitable material is provided on the under faces of the yoke jaws, to prevent the latter from scraping the lower pedals and thereby marring the same and producing discordant sounds during a musical performance.

The stool is retained in fixed relation to the piano to be played, by means, of brackets 29, adjustably attached on the rear legs I6 of said stool. Said brackets are pivotally mounted on threaded rods 30, and the latter are afiixed at each end thereof in spaced relation with said rear legs. Binding nuts 3| and 32 are threaded on said rod for holding the brackets at any desired level to correspond with the base of the pedal board I2, or end casings of an upright piano. Said brackets to be swung to such desired positions, and then raised by the nut 3| until the stool is made rigid with the piano. An offset C in the bracket, permits the outer end to be depressed near the floor when necessary.

Any suitable casing or cover 33, may be connected over the shaft, by plates 34. Rubber balls 35 may be attached to the bottoms of the legs to prevent marring of a floor, and for quietness.

Having described my invention I claim as new:

1. In combination, a piano foot stool with auxiliary pedals for children, comprising a stool adjustably connected adjacent the regular pedals of a piano, a horizontal pivot shaft supported by and above the rear side of said stool, auxiliary pedals rotatably mounted on said shaft, cylindrical blocks slidably mounted on said shaft, said blocks provided with slots in one side thereof for the entry of rear ends said pedals therein and for limiting the downward movement of said pedals, with means for binding said blocks in desired positions on said shaft, when said auxiliary pedals have been suitably positioned over said regular pedals, to be operated thereby.

2. Auxiliary pedals and attachments for a piano, connected with a piano foot stool for children, comprising said pedals pivotally mounted over such stool, a connecting rod for adjustably connecting said pedals with the regular pedals of a piano to operate the same, comprising two tubular sections telescopically connected, for adjusting the length thereof, means for locking such sections at a predetermined point, the top section of said rods adjustably connected to the bottoms of said auxiliary pedals by universal ball and socket joints to permit the lower end of said rod to be moved forward to conform with the position of said regular pedals, and adapted to operate said regular pedals, when said auxiliary pedals are operated.

3. The combination described in the foregoing claim 2, with clutch means for connecting the lower ends of said rods with said regular pedals, comprising a yoke with jaws attached to the lower ends of said rods, said jaws openly spaced to span said regular pedals in either perpendicular or oblique positions, resilient and curved fingers projected inward from said opposite jaws adapted to spring over said regular pedals, and retain said jaws and yoke in closed position over said last described pedals, and a cushion lining around the bearing faces of said jaws to prevent the marring of the pedals and to prevent friction and noises when the two sets of pedals are operated.

YOSHIRO MIYASHITA.

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